Lot Details

6c carmine, 1874, two singles, with single Hawaii 2c rose vermilion, 5c blue, and 6c arranged, arranged in overlapping fashion and tied together on cover from Honolulu, Hawaii, to East Hatley, Quebec, Canada, postmarked with Hawaii double-circle "G.P.O. Honolulu / Sep / 21 / Paid All" and violet "San Francisco Cal / Oct / 17 / Paid All" c.d.s., reverse with Montreal transit (24 Oct) and Hatley split-ring receiver, cover reduced at left, a few small wormholes including through 6c, and light overall soiling, but a rare and most likely unique franking, signed Ashbrook; ex Ainsworth.  Ashbrook surmises that this is an overpaid, double rate letter, the 2c, 5c, and 6c Hawaiian adhesives overpaying the double rate to the United States by 1c, the two 6c carmine paying the correct double rate to Canada.